At Hey Girls, we believe that access to period products is a fundamental right, not a privilege. That’s why, after working within over 20 NHS Trusts across a range of hospitals, clinics and other healthcare units across the UK we are now thrilled to be partnering with Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) on a six-month pilot scheme to provide free, high-quality, and sustainable period products for service users and staff.
The initiative, launched at Hellesdon Hospital, aims to address period poverty while also challenging the stigma surrounding menstruation. The project will ensure period products are available across wards, the mother and baby unit, the hospital food bank, and in staff toilets ensuring that those who need them can access them easily and with dignity.
Period stigma remains a serious issue, making it difficult for people to discuss their needs openly. Hey Girls co-founder Kate Smith says “partnering with NSFT is a crucial step in tackling period poverty and ending the stigma around menstruation. By ensuring free and sustainable period products are accessible to both staff and service users, we’re promoting dignity, equality, and open conversations about menstrual health in healthcare settings.”
Through this initiative, NSFT and Hey Girls are not just providing essential products but also working to change perceptions about periods. As part of this project, Hey Girls will provide educational resources and training sessions to promote period equality and awareness. These sessions will cover a huge variety of period related topics from product uses, environmental impact and the importance of period dignity in workplace policy.
By equipping staff and service users with knowledge, we aim to create a culture where menstruation is recognised as a normal and healthy part of life. For NHS staff, long shifts can make it challenging to access period products when needed. Hayley Biscoe, the project manager at NSFT, highlighted the importance of the initiative, stating: “Having these available as and when needed shows a level of care to ensure that all those who menstruate can experience a dignified period and not be discriminated against based on socio-economic status, gender, or accessibility to products.”
Similarly, service users may find themselves in hospital unexpectedly, without access to essential period products. In some cases, cultural, personal, or mental health barriers prevent individuals from openly discussing their needs. Providing free, sustainable period products ensures that no one has to suffer in silence. Hey Girls Sales and Partnerships manager Georgie says “this partnership with NSFT is about more than just period products, it’s about dignity, inclusion, and breaking stigma. We’re proud of the conversations sparked along the way and hope to expand this initiative across more NHS trusts in the future.”
NSFT is also working towards being recognised as a period-friendly organisation. Amy Webb, Co-chair of the Women’s Network at NSFT, emphasised:“This is all about recognizing the importance of creating an open and healthy workplace culture where people can talk about symptoms, get the support they need, and have access to the appropriate products when they need them.”
The success of this pilot will be evaluated based on staff and service user feedback, with hopes of rolling it out across the entire trust. In the meantime, NSFT’s Women’s Network is providing “starter boxes” of period products to other sites with the empowering message: “Take what you need, donate what you can.”
At Hey Girls, we’re passionate about ensuring that no one is held back by their period. By working with forward-thinking partners like NSFT, we’re taking a huge step towards normalising conversations about periods and ensuring access to period dignity for all.
If you want to get involved in a similar project, contact our team: b2b@heygirls.co.uk
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